Orioles pregame: Orioles vs. Nationals (UPDATED)

The Orioles host the Nationals today at Ed Smith Stadium in the only meeting between the teams. Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy is back in the lineup after sitting out two days with a sore shoulder.

-- Endy Chavez, nursing a groin injury, has been out of the lineup for the third straight day. Ryan Flaherty is making another start in rightfield.

-- There was some consideration that Nick Markakis be in the lineup at DH today, marking the first time he would make back-to-back starts, but Buck Showalter said he wanted to stick to the Markakis' original schedule so he's out of the lineup with a previously-planned day off after making his second start in RF on Friday. He will make his next start on Monday vs. the Pirates in Bradenton.

-- Jake Arrieta will start for the Orioles. Look for him to go 5-plus innings.

-- LHP Tsuyoshi Wada is slated to make his second Grapefruit League appearance on Tuesday at home against Minnesota. LHP Wei-Yin Chen is scheduled to start that game. Wada last pitched in a minor-league Double-A game on Thursday, so he will be pitching on four days rest for the first time this spring.

-- RHP Alfredo Simon will throw a bullpen tomorrow, his first since he came out of Sunday's night game against the Yankees with a groin injury.